Anderson Advanced Ingredients announces no-objection GRAS letter for FiberSMART ingredient

Photo © AdobeStock.com/Alexander Ruiz

Anderson Advanced Ingredients (Irvine, CA) announced that it has received a “letter of no objection” from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in response to its GRAS (generally recognized as safe) notification for a resistant dextrin made from tapioca. The ingredient, marketed as FiberSMART, is available as a conventional or organic certified powder or syrup, and according to the company is 20% as sweet as sugar, and while having a low glycemic index, functions more like a sugar than a fiber. Highly tolerable to up to 70 grams per day, it could make an ideal sugar reduction solution, the company says.

“Please note that conventional dietary fiber ingredients often have a gritty mouthfeel,” said Susan Cho, PhD, president of AceOne RS, and world-renowned fiber expert, in a press release. “However, FiberSMART tapioca is soluble in water and contributes to a smooth mouthfeel without sacrificing the taste and flavor when used in food products.”

The GRAS status confirms that FiberSMART is safe for use at levels ranging from 1.2 to 10 grams per serving in a wide range of food applications, including: baked goods, non-alcoholic beverages, cereals, granola bars, condiments, dressings, confections, dairy products, frozen desserts, gravies and sauces, meal replacements, pasta and grain products, prepared meals, soups, processed fruits, shelf-stable desserts, snacks, crackers, and nutrition bars.

“We have received so much positive feedback about FiberSMART, not only for its versatility and tolerability, but also because its tight tolerances around water activity improve on product consistency and production run times,” said John Jarmul, vice president of marketing for Anderson Advanced Ingredients, in a press release. “FiberSMART is fully soluble and can also be used as a carrier in place of maltodextrin. Overall, it’s a great product for lowering sugar content and increasing fiber without sacrificing taste or texture.”